Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
Contrary to the general perception in Abia State, it has emerged that the scheming by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s kinsmen to retain power for another eight years is not a collective Ngwa agenda.
This is because a section of the Ngwa people in diaspora view the self succession plot as “obnoxious” and are vehemently questioning its morality given that an Ngwa man would exit Government House next year after eight years in office.
Among the opponents of self succession is a United States of America-based Ngwa group under the aegis of Isiala Ngwa Family Association (INFA), which in a statement called for a power shift to Abia North “in the spirit of justice and equity.”
In the statement signed by its Coordinator, Uchenna Elemuo, INFA noted that though it would appear politically logical for the Old Aba Division to retain power to balance things out with the Old Bende Division, it can’t be justified in the present circumstances.
“It is morally wrong for Nde Ngwa to hold power for 16 years at a stretch,” the group based in Atlanta, Georgia said, adding that the Ngwa self succession plot negates the Abia Charter of Equity.
The Ngwa plot, which Ikpeazu is said to have given his tacit support, envisages having an Ngwa man from Abia Central succeeding him in 2023. The immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Prof. Uche Ikonne, has already been picked as the Ngwa consensus candidate to actualise the agenda.
But the Isiala Ngwa Family Association noted that while the plot was hatched under the umbrella of Ukwa-Ngwa political bloc the ultimate beneficiary, as always, are the Ngwas.
The group therefore argued that “excluding the Ukwa nation from bonafide beneficiaries of the Old Aba Division argument is yet another injustice that the proponents of this narrative deliberately want to cover.”
It stated that it smacks of “insensitivity and greed” on the part of the Ngwa clan to scheme to hold on to power beyond 2023 when a Division in Abia North (Isuikwuato) has not tasted power since the creation of Abia.
The Ngwa diaspora group warned against any political scheming that could upset the peaceful transition of power that has always prevailed in Abia.
It urged the Ngwa clan to ignore the self-seeking politicians among them and support power shift to Abia North in the spirit of equity and fairness so that when next power returns to Abia Central, the Ngwa component of the zone would take their turn.
